Mid-spring is the beginning of the peak season for the activation of ticks, from whose attacks no one is immune, so it is important to know the signs of a tick bite on a person in order to carry out emergency prevention or preventive treatment. Everything you need to know about the signs of a bite, consequences, methods of treatment and prevention is in our article.
- taiga Ixodes Persulcatus;
- European forest Ixodes Ricinus.
The absence of eyes is compensated by a highly developed sense of smell and touch, increased sensitivity These organs enable the animal to react with lightning speed to the proximity of the victim. During feeding, the rear part of the female's body stretches, allowing it to absorb a volume of blood many times greater than the body weight of the hungry individual. Males are less bloodthirsty: males attach for a short time, replenishing the deficiency of nutrients.
VIDEO: How ixodid fauna representatives attack
Pincer attacks: features
If you are bitten by a tick, characteristic symptoms in humans they appear only after a certain time. How serious the consequences of an attack by a blood-sucking relative of insects can be is determined by a number of key points:
The reaction to a tick bite depends on the combination of the conditions described above. The consequences of attacks by arthropods are diseases of natural focality, including infection:
- encephalitis;
- borreliosis - neurological syndrome of Lyme disease;
- typhus, relapsing fever;
- hemorrhagic fever;
- Q-fever;
- tularemia;
- monocytic erchiliosis.
An attack by a female or a male is equally dangerous. The attack by a male is short-lived and painless, so the wound is difficult to notice immediately. Cases of encephalitis infection, when victims deny the possibility of contact - clear example male attacks.
Ticks suck blood from humans, plunging their heads into the skin, first cutting the layers of the dermis, simultaneously injecting an anesthetic, and fixing themselves inside by means of a hypostomome - a special outgrowth resembling an anchor.
- belly;
- neck/back of the head/ears;
- lower back/back;
- chest;
- armpits;
- groin
The result of a tick attack is microtrauma of the skin. A tick bite, symptoms are manifested by the development of an inflammatory process caused by the action of the components of the animal’s saliva. The most “harmless” consequences are local allergic reactions, accompanied by redness of the suction area. When the effect of the anesthetic wears off, the skin begins to itch.
After an attack by a borreliosis carrier, the bite site acquires a pronounced reddish tint, caused by intense expansion of the capillaries. After a while, an additional bright red border appears around the round or oval spot, and the area inside turns blue or white.
A tumor after a tick bite or the formation of a lump-shaped seal is explained by two reasons:
- allergy to the composition secreted by the salivary glands. Signs of a tick bite in an allergic person are determined by the degree of aggressiveness of the allergens secreted by the animal’s saliva plus the individual immune response;
- improper removal of the arthropod - part of the proboscis remains inside. The immune system recognizes a foreign protein compound, including a defense mechanism, the body reacts with swelling of the affected area, and an abscess may occur.
Even when you are sure that the attacked tick is 100% a carrier of pathogens, the first signs appear only after a certain period of time.
Symptoms of arthropod damage
Externally, the first signs of a tick bite appear:
- headache;
- chills, fever;
- development of tachycardia, decreased blood pressure;
- gagging;
- deterioration of general health, apathy;
- swelling of the affected area;
- muscle weakness, numbness of the limbs;
- difficulty breathing;
- decreased/loss of appetite;
- photophobia - painful perception of bright light by the eyes.
Rare cases of allergic reactions are accompanied by angioedema and temporary paralysis.
The latent period of borreliosis, ehrlichiosis, encephalitis, and anaplasmosis is a month. The swelling after a tick bite can last a long time. The absence of fever is a favorable sign. The onset of the inflammatory process and the formation of an abscess becomes a reason to see a doctor. Independent manipulations - cauterization, heating, use of ointments are fraught with complications; consultation with a specialist is necessary.
VIDEO: Tick bite, what to do and how to prevent
Encephalitis: alarming symptoms
There are no characteristic signs of a tick bite on a person confirming 100% infection with the disease. Only laboratory staff can confirm or deny the fact that the bloodsucker is infected. An attack by infected arthropods implies a gradual proliferation of pathogens, given the absence of pronounced manifestations of the disease. Primary signs of a bite encephalitis tick in humans they will appear after 8-10 days. The presence of immunodeficiencies and chronic diseases can accelerate the development of symptoms of the disease, so health worsens after 3-4 days.
The onset of any form of pathology manifests itself similarly to the flu:
- febrile condition accompanied by high temperature up to 39.9°;
- body aches - muscle/joint pain;
- decrease vitality body;
- headache.
Active reproduction pathogenic bacteria provokes fever, the duration of the period is 6-10 days. Possible various options developments of events. Mild degree the course of the disease implies recovery, fast recovery body, the production of antibodies that prevent re-infection. A rare event- change of feverish form chronic course diseases.
After the fever stage, a short remission may also occur, then the viral attack resumes, accompanied by similar symptoms of fever. The virus crossing the blood-brain barrier causes cell damage nervous system. This stage of encephalitis is characterized by the appearance of symptoms of meningitis. Viral attacks alternately disrupt the functioning of internal organs.
Certain signs are characteristic of different lesions:
- The meningoencephalitic form is characterized by the appearance of hallucinations, pronounced changes mental disorders, paralysis, paresis, epileptic seizures.
- The polio form is distinguished by a number of signs characteristic of polio, which causes loss of the ability of the muscles of the neck and arms to move (paralysis).
- The polyradiculoneurotic form is accompanied by a lesion peripheral nerves, loss of sensitivity in the leg muscles, development of strong pain syndrome affecting the groin area.
An unfavorable outcome implies a significant reduction in the patient's quality of life. The result may be dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system. Progressive symptoms cause epilepsy of varying severity, hyperkinesis, severe disorders psyche, severe asthenia - a person becomes disabled.
First aid
It is forbidden to pull the bloodsucker, use gasoline, kerosene, oil, vinegar, pouring chemicals into the affected area. Such manipulations are fraught with the death of the animal, relaxation of the oral apparatus, the entry of the full volume of dangerous microbes into the blood, and an increased risk of developing diseases.
The wound will need to be treated antiseptic composition, minimizing the intensity of manifestation characteristic features defeats. Swelling has appeared, breathing has become difficult - it is advisable to do intramuscular injection Prednisone.
The ideal option is to examine a living individual through microscopy, finding out whether the victim was attacked by a sterile or infected individual. The damaged body is also covered with ice and delivered to laboratory specialists. The research is carried out by employees of Rospotrebnadzor, the lists of addresses contain relevant websites.
Prevention and treatment of infections caused by blood-sucking arachnids
Symptoms and treatment of encephalitis exclude antibiotic therapy, meaning:
- mandatory hospitalization in a hospital;
- compliance bed rest, including period feverish state plus the entire next week, after the disappearance of acute flu symptoms;
- prescription of prednisolone, ribonuclease, rheopolyglucin, polyglucin, hemodez;
- symptoms of meningitis are eliminated increased dosages preparations containing vitamin B, ascorbic acid;
- breathing difficulties are alleviated by the use of mechanical ventilation methods - intensive ventilation of the lungs;
- restorative therapeutic measures include courses of anabolic steroids, nootropics, transquilizers.
Treatment of Lyme borreliosis requires the mandatory use of antibiotics that help stop the negative consequences of infection by quickly reducing the activity of spirochetes, the main causative agents of the disease. When the infection provokes dysfunction of the nervous system, the patient requires mandatory hospitalization.
VIDEO: How to properly remove a tick from a person
Basic principles of drug therapy
- Prevent initial signs- formation of a characteristic reddish spot, tetracycline drugs are called for - antimicrobial agents allowing to effectively treat infections of various origins. The use of bacteriostatic agents helps to minimize late-stage complications.
- The development of neurological syndrome of tick-borne borreliosis is stopped by courses of intravenous injections of antibiotics of the penicillin group, cephalosporins.
- The disturbed water balance is restored by using saline solutions, vitamins, prednisolone, agents that stabilize blood circulation in the brain, and taking anabolic steroids.
You need to know the following facts:
- Vaccination against encephalitis is guaranteed to protect against the disease.
- After 10 days, the blood is tested using PCR methods. Polymerase chain reaction identifies microorganisms that provoke the development of encephalitis and Lyme borreliosis.
- Two weeks later, a test is performed to determine the presence of antibodies that prevent infection with encephalitis.
- After a month, the presence of Lyme borreliosis antibodies can be detected.
The choice of antigenic material for vaccination, indicated for any person who is a resident of a disadvantaged region, who has a profession that requires frequent stay in forest areas, includes several types of vaccines produced by Russia, Switzerland, and Germany.
Vaccination human immunoglobulin - payable service. Free administration of gamma globulin is indicated for individuals, in accordance with the terms of the encephalitis treatment program provided for by the voluntary health insurance policy.
Russian-made vaccines
- The use of concentrated culture purified inactivated dry vaccine is indicated for children over four years of age. The developer is the M.P. Chumakov Institute.
- The administration of the drug Encevir, produced by the Microgen research and production association, is permitted from the age of 18 years.
Vaccines from the Austrian manufacturer BaxterVaccine AG
- the use of FSME-IMMUN Inject is indicated for the age category 1-16 years;
- The drug FSME-IMMUN Junior is used in a similar way.
German drugs
- Encepur vaccine for children, approved from the first years of life;
- use of Encepur for adults, indicated from 12 years of age
Vaccinations are given to everyone interested, given the absence of contraindications. Primary vaccination can be given to children during the first year of life, preferably using imported drugs. Timely vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is an effective preventive measure to minimize the symptoms and consequences of a tick attack.
VIDEO: What to do if bitten by a tick
Ticks don't like dampness. Tick bites should be expected in warm and not rainy weather. During bite The tick injects a special anesthetic substance, so the attack occurs completely unnoticed. For bites, choose hidden clothing and tender places. Favorite places for suction are the elbows, scalp, legs and arms, and groin.
The most serious consequences await after the bite taiga
or European forest
ticks. These types of insects are quite large compared to other representatives of the group. They feed on blood. The hard chitinous shell covering the entire body of the insect stretches across the abdomen, so it can absorb quite a lot of blood and become like a large bean. Males are smaller than females and also absorb very little blood - one hour is enough for them to become saturated. Ticks can smell their prey with their “nose” ten meters away, but they have no vision at all.
Three or even five years pass from the moment the egg is laid until the adult appears. Moreover, over all these years, the tick drinks the blood of its victims only a few times.
Tick habitats
Ticks lie in wait for their victims in damp places, forests with good thick grass, not too shady. Favorite places are ravines, edges and paths overgrown with grass. It is on such paths that they await their victims, because the paths store the odors of warm-blooded creatures.
Habits of ticks
Blood-sucking ticks appear in mid-spring, their population increases very quickly and by May their number is at its maximum, remaining until the very beginning of July. After which the population dies out, but some of its representatives can be observed in nature until the beginning of autumn.The insect awaits its victim on a blade of grass or bush, up to 50 centimeters high. Sensing the object of the hunt, the insect stretches its legs forward and moves them, trying to cling. He does this very quickly, helped by the hooks and suction cups that are on his paws.
You need to remember once and for all: not a single tick falls on a person or animal from above. Found on the back or head, it simply crawled there from below in search of the most convenient place for suction.
The most “tasty” places are on the neck, head in animals and in the folds of human skin.
It takes almost a week for the female to become completely saturated. They are not picky when choosing food: birds, small or large mammals, and humans will do.
Possible consequences of a bite
One of the most serious consequences is infection with any disease. Infection occurs while the insect is feeding. As soon as the tick digs its proboscis into the body of the victim, it releases its saliva. The glands that produce saliva are very large. Saliva is a very important substance that ticks need for many different processes. First of all, she “glues” the proboscis to the body. In addition, saliva contains an anesthetic that makes the puncture painless for the victim, substances that destruct the walls blood vessels and disrupting the functioning of local immunity.
Viral encephalitis
This is a disease affecting the nervous system. In severe cases, the patient develops paralysis and death occurs.Ixodid ticks , inhabiting the forests and forest-steppes of Eurasia are the main carriers and sources of encephalitis viruses. This disease is dangerous only in spring and autumn, since it is at this time that ticks are most active.
You can become infected either by a tick bite or by consuming unboiled milk from cows or goats infected with encephalitis.
The type of encephalitis characteristic of the European part is milder and causes death in only 2% of cases. Whereas a person who contracts this disease in the Far East has a 30% chance of dying from the disease.
The main source of encephalitis are small rodents. They get sick very easily, but tolerate the disease almost unnoticed. Ticks also become infected from them. Viruses can be found in almost all organs and tissues, including the salivary glands. When saliva is injected into the victim's body, the virus is simultaneously transmitted. Most viruses are contained in the first thick portion of saliva, which acts like cement.
The encephalitis virus can be carried by ticks of any gender.
Symptoms
The signs of this disease are varied. They appear a week or two after a tick bite:
- weakness of arms and legs,
- impaired sensitivity of the skin of the upper body,
- temperature increase to 39 - 40 degrees,
- general deterioration of health,
- Strong headache ,
- redness of the skin of the upper body and mucous membranes,
- temporary deterioration of consciousness.
Tick-borne borreliosis or Lyme disease
The causative agent of this disease is spirochetes, which are spread in nature, including by ticks. The disease occurs in a chronic form, affecting almost all organs and systems. You can become infected with tick-borne borreliosis on almost any continent. In Russia, the Tyumen, Kaliningrad, Perm, Yaroslavl, Leningrad, Tver and Kostroma regions are considered unfavorable for this disease. Far East, Western Siberia, Ural.
A person infected with tick-borne borreliosis is not a source of danger to others.
Infection occurs through the tick's saliva. The pathogen very quickly penetrates through the bloodstream into almost all organs and tissues. After which Borrelia can remain in the body for decades.
Symptoms
Signs appear 2 to 30 days after the bite. At the site of virus introduction, a large bright scarlet spot appears, which gradually increases in diameter to 10 or even more centimeters. Most often, the spot is a regular round or ellipsoidal shape. Along the edge, the spot is limited by a ridge protruding above the level of the body. Gradually, the middle of the spot loses its color intensity and becomes bluish, covered with a crust and a scar. After 20–30 days, the spot completely disappears, and after another 4–6 weeks, symptoms of damage to the nervous and other systems appear.
Main diagnostic sign disease is a spot. This disease must be treated in a hospital, since if the pathogen is not destroyed, it develops. chronic form leading to disability.
Relapsing tick-borne typhus
These are acute infections caused by various representatives of spirochetes. You can become infected with them in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Krasnodar Territory, as well as in Africa, North and South America. Ticks not only carry pathogens, but even pass them on to their offspring. Infection occurs during a tick bite.
Symptoms
A blister appears at the site of infection. Once in the body, the pathogen actively multiplies and penetrates the blood. The victim suddenly begins to shiver, he has a headache, he is very hot, he is lethargic, his limbs ache, the temperature rises to 39 - 40 degrees, he feels nauseous. At this stage, the bubble becomes dark red in color. The patient's body becomes covered with a rash, his liver and spleen are enlarged in size, and yellowing of the sclera and skin may be observed.
Sometimes there are symptoms of involvement of the heart and respiratory organs in the process. The acute period lasts 2–6 days, then the temperature normalizes or almost normalizes. The patient's condition is improving. But after a few days, a second attack begins, no different from the first. There can be from four to twelve attacks. Subsequent attacks are usually milder than the first.
The disease is diagnosed using a blood test. Treatment is inpatient. If a person was healthy and not exhausted before infection, then he has a high chance of making a full recovery.
Q fever
It is one of the most common zoonotic ( source is wild animals) rickettsioses throughout the world. The causative agent of Q fever can exist in the environment for a long time, it is difficult to destroy it by disinfection, boiling ( no less than 10 minutes).
Both domestic and wild animals can carry Q fever. Ticks are one of the carriers of pathogens, and they pass them on to their offspring.
It is quite difficult to become infected from a patient - only through sputum or breast milk. The pathogen enters the body through the respiratory, digestive, and dermis organs. A recovered person has virtually no chance of becoming infected again.
Symptoms
Symptoms can appear either a few days or a month after the tick bite. Usually the onset of the disease is rapid:
- aches all over the body,
- headache,
- nonproductive cough,
- hard work sweat glands,
- aversion to food
- insomnia,
- facial redness,
- increase in body temperature to 38 - 40 degrees.
To make a diagnosis, blood tests are taken and the patient is examined. Q fever can only be treated in a hospital. The disease responds well to drug treatment.
Hemorrhagic fevers
There are several types of hemorrhagic fevers that can be contracted through a tick bite: Crimean, Omsk, renal syndrome. Omsk hemorrhagic fever practically does not occur today. The Crimean form is common in the Rostov region, Crimea, the Taman Peninsula, Southern Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Bulgaria. Pathogens hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome are found in both Asia and Europe, regardless of the nature of the area. Symptoms
All these diseases occur with an increase in body temperature, hemorrhages under the skin, as well as in internal organs. The incubation period is for Omsk and Crimean - from 2 to 7 days, for fever with renal syndrome - from 10 to 25 days.
It is very important not to squeeze the insect’s body, no matter how it is removed. It is also important not to tear off the head of the tick, because the proboscis remaining in the body can provoke a purulent process. If the head comes off when removing the tick, it may still contain pathogens that penetrate the human body.
If, after removing the tick, a small black dot remains at the site of suction, this means that the head has come off and must be removed. To do this, the affected area is treated with alcohol and the wound is cleaned using a disinfected needle. After removing the head, you need to lubricate the wound with alcohol or iodine.
It is completely useless to drip oil or alcohol onto the tick, as some sources recommend. Such manipulations can lead to two results: either the tick will suffocate and remain in the wound, or it will get scared and begin to secrete more saliva and, along with it, pathogens.
Pincer twisters
Devices for removing ticks are preferable to tweezers in that the insect's body does not shrink at all and no more secretion is squeezed into the wound. Thus, the likelihood of infection is reduced.Such devices are produced by foreign companies, but they can be purchased through online stores in any country. Using the device is very simple and is based on the principle of twisting. But such a device does not compress the insect’s body at all, unlike tweezers.
Insect in ear
This is very unpleasant phenomenon, which can result in a bite. To remove an insect from the ear, you need to lay the victim down, turn his head to the side and pour in a large number of slightly warmed water into the ear where the insect is located. Lie down for about a minute, then turn your head to the other side and wait until the water flows out and the insect comes out with it. Sometimes this is not enough, but in such cases you can’t do without medical help.After the bite
If the bite occurred in epidemiologically disadvantaged areas, just pulling out the tick will not do the trick. Even one puncture is enough to introduce pathogens into the wound.After removal, the insect should be placed in a glass bottle and a small piece of cotton wool slightly soaked in water should be thrown in there. Be sure to seal the bottle tightly and keep it in a cold place until poisoning in the hospital. For the analysis to be successful, the insect must be delivered to the laboratory alive.
There is also a technique that allows one to detect diseases using parts of an insect’s body. But this is an expensive method - PCR, which is not very common.
Even if the insect itself is infected, this does not mean that the bite necessarily led to infection of a person. The insect is examined just in case to avoid surprises.
You should definitely go to the hospital if:
- the affected area is very red and very swollen,
- 5 – 30 days after the bite, general health worsened: body temperature increased, chills, headache, it’s hard to move it, eyes hurt from the light.
How is an encephalitis tick bite diagnosed?
About 13% of ixodid ticks carry encephalitis, but just by looking at an insect it is in no way possible to determine whether it is infected or not. The answer will only be given by a laboratory test of the insect itself or the blood of the victim. It is completely useless to take a blood test immediately after a bite. It takes at least a week for an infection to develop in the body. Therefore, a PCR test is usually prescribed 10 days after the bite. This analysis allows you to detect borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis. A blood test for the presence of antibodies is done even later. Antibodies to the tick-borne encephalitis virus will be detected in the blood only 14 days after the bite, and to Borrelia only after 4 weeks.
Immunoglobulin and other emergency aid after a bite
If the areas where the bite occurred are epidemiologically unfavorable, it is necessary to urgently prevent the development of serious illnesses, primarily tick-borne encephalitis. Prevention is mandatory if a person is not vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis, as well as in cases where there is a high probability of infection ( the tick is a carrier of the virus; several ticks were found at once).It's best if necessary medications administered within 24 hours of the bite. If more than four days have passed, prevention is useless.
To prevent tick-borne encephalitis, immunoglobulin or antiviral drugs are used. These remedies are useless during infection tick-borne borreliosis and other tick-borne diseases.
Immunoglobulin
Today it is considered an outdated drug and is no longer used in developed countries. Its disadvantages include high cost, as well as by-effect in the form of an allergy.
Immunoglobulin is produced from whey donated blood. The drug is produced only from the blood of people who already have antibodies to the tick-borne encephalitis virus.
It is used both for the prevention and treatment of tick-borne encephalitis in people of different ages.
The drug is effective only in the first three days after possible infection. Before starting use, you should study the instructions, since immunoglobulin has many contraindications, and the drug itself causes a sufficient number of side effects.
The drug is used exclusively as prescribed by a doctor. It is infused intramuscularly, the dosage is selected taking into account the body weight of the victim.
Antiviral agents
Most often used yodantipyrine for patients over 14 years of age and anaferon for children. If none of these drugs are available, you can use any antiviral drug sold at the pharmacy ( arbidol, cycloferon, remantadine).
Yodantipyrine represents antiviral agent, which stimulates the immune system and relieves inflammation. Under the influence of this drug, cell membranes stop allowing viruses to enter. The production of alpha and beta interferons is activated. The drug is effective against tick-borne encephalitis virus, influenza, parainfluenza, vesicular stomatitis, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. It is used for both treatment and prevention of diseases. The drug should not be used if you have hyperthyroidism.
Remantadine– it should be taken no later than 48 hours after the bite, 100 mg twice a day with an interval of 12 hours. Duration of treatment is three days.
What does a bite look like?
The tissue at the site of the bite turns red and swells - this is the body’s normal response to a tick bite. Normally, the redness should go away on its own within a couple of days after the insect is completely removed. But if you take antihistamines, the redness should go away faster. Redness due to borreliosis ( erythema) appears 5–7 days after the bite.
Graft
Vaccination is effective method preventing infection. A very illustrative example is Austria, which ranked first on the mainland in the number of cases of tick-borne encephalitis. But when total vaccination was introduced, the incidence rate in the country dropped significantly. Today, at least 80% of the residents there are vaccinated. The effectiveness of the vaccine is 95%.The vaccine contains killed tick-borne encephalitis virus. Once in the body, it is remembered by the immune system and subsequently upon contact with this pathogen the immune system instantly suppresses it. Lasting immunity develops 14 days after revaccination ( second vaccination). That is why you should get vaccinated in advance - even in winter.
Who should get vaccinated?
- people who live in areas unfavorable for tick-borne encephalitis,
- people planning to travel to areas unfavorable for this disease.
Vaccination should be done after the end of the insect activity season, that is, from the end of autumn. Vaccination schedules vary slightly for different vaccines. In addition, emergency schemes have been developed for special cases, which make it possible to obtain immunity in a shorter time.
IN special cases You can also get vaccinated in the warm season, but you should keep in mind that immunity will appear three to four weeks after the first vaccination. During this time, it is advisable to avoid contact with insects.
To maintain immunity, revaccination should be carried out once every three years ( one dose of vaccine). If more than 5 years have passed since the next vaccination, it is necessary to carry out double vaccination again.
Bite insurance
Tick bite insurance has its own characteristics compared to other types of insurance. Thus, the insurance policy does not provide monetary compensation for a tick bite, but a number of medical services:1. The victim will be admitted to a special medical facility engaged in seroprophylaxis.
2. The tick will be removed.
3. Within two to three days after the bite, the victim will receive a preventive course of immunoglobulin.
All other services may vary depending on the insurance company. For example, the most budgetary insurance option provides only one-time immunization. By paying for more expensive insurance, you can receive not only the full scope of immunization, but also therapy in the hospital if the disease develops, as well as all the necessary medications for post-hospital recovery.
Insurance can be individual or family ( one insurance policy is issued for all household members at once).
When applying for insurance, you need to ask the agent about all the details in as much detail as possible. After which you need to carefully read the contract - some insurance agents exaggerate and embellish the benefits of insurance.
You should be very careful when considering the following points:
1.
Insurance amount. This is the amount of money that will be used by the insurance company for medical care. Sometimes the insurer claims that it provides full medical care and recovery, but at the same time a very small amount of money is included in the contract. In this case, it is almost impossible to get everything you need. To calculate the required amount of money, you should find out the prices for immunization and all necessary medical procedures.
2.
What services are included? What exactly does the insurance company undertake to provide? The policy may indicate only one-time immunization. In this case, it is useless to expect more, even if the insurance amount is quite large. The question arises: why do you need so much money? This question is most relevant when purchasing an insurance policy for the whole family.
3.
The insurance contract must contain an appendix: a list of all medical institutions, where you can get help with insurance. It is convenient if they are quite close. There are insurance companies that provide services throughout your state. After all, if you seek medical care from an institution with which there is no contract, you will need to pay for all medical services received.
Most policies indicate that immunoglobulin is administered no more than once every 4 weeks. This is dictated medical indications: administering this drug more often is not only useless, but even harmful. For a month, the medicine acts as a kind of vaccination.
How to protect yourself?
First of all, when going to tick habitats, you need to dress properly. Clothes should have long sleeves, trousers, and you should also put something on your head, preferably a hood. Thermal underwear can be very convenient, as it fits perfectly to the body and prevents insects from crawling into secluded places. Long socks or knee socks are required, and trouser legs should be tucked into boots or chosen with cuffs.
It is advisable that the collar be buttoned tightly enough.
Another effective remedy from ticks - this repellents . They are sold in many stores and pharmacies.
The repellent should be applied to those places where the tick gets first - trouser legs, shoes and legs up to the thigh. Tick repellents are quite toxic, so it is advisable to avoid getting them on exposed areas of the body.
And the third remedy is vigilance. You should periodically examine each other for preventive purposes.
What should I do if bitten by a tick
Before use, you should consult a specialist.
Disease carriers are most often ixodid ticks.
General information about ticks
Ticks are characterized by seasonality. The first cases of attacks are recorded in early spring, when the air temperature rises above 0 0 C, and the last cases - in the fall. Peak bites occur from April to July.
Bloodsuckers do not like bright sun and wind, so they lie in wait for their prey in damp, not too shady places, in thick grass and bushes. Most often found in ravines, on the edges of forests, along the edges of paths or in parks.
Tick attack and bite
The tick gnaws through the skin using a hypostome (oral apparatus) dotted with growths along the edges facing backwards. This structure of the organ helps the bloodsucker to remain firmly in the tissues of the host.
With borreliosis, a tick bite looks like focal erythema up to 20–50 cm in diameter. The shape of the inflammation is most often regular, with an outer border bright red. After a day, the center of the erythema turns pale and acquires a bluish tint, a crust appears and soon the bite site is scarred. After 10–14 days, no trace remains of the lesion.
Signs of a tick bite
- there is weakness, a desire to lie down;
- chills and fever occur, possibly an increase in temperature;
- photophobia appears.
Attention. In people of this group, symptoms may be supplemented by low blood pressure, increased heart rate, itching, headache and enlargement of nearby lymph nodes.
In rare cases, difficulty breathing and hallucinations may occur.
Temperature after a bite as a symptom of the disease
Each infection caused by a bloodsucker bite has its own characteristics:
- With tick-borne encephalitis, relapsing fever appears. The first rise in temperature is recorded 2–3 days after the bite. After two days everything returns to normal. In some cases, a repeated increase in temperature is observed on days 9–10.
- Borreliosis is characterized by fever in the middle of the disease, which is accompanied by other symptoms of infection.
- At monocytic ehrlichiosis the temperature rises 10-14 days after a tick bite and lasts about 3 weeks.
Rules of conduct when bitten by a tick
So, what to do if you are bitten by a tick? First of all, it is necessary to remove the bloodsucker as soon as possible. This should be done slowly and carefully so as not to damage it or cause infection. Do not use gasoline, nail polish or other chemicals. It won't help either vegetable oil or fat. It is better to use effective and practice-tested methods.
Removing a tick with a thread
The method is simple, but requires a lot of dexterity and patience. It will be useful when extracting large specimens. For the procedure to be successful, it is recommended to perform the following actions:
Extracting a tick with a thread
The removed bloodsucker must be placed in a glass container with a tight lid and taken to the laboratory for research.
Removing a tick using tweezers
Attention. When removing the bloodsucker, tweezers must be held strictly parallel or perpendicular to the skin.
Tick twisters
Tick removers are very effective
Other ways to remove ticks
- Wrap your fingers in a handkerchief or gauze to make it easier to hold the tick.
- Grab it at the very border with the skin and pull it out with smooth twisting movements.
- Disinfect the wound or rinse with water.
If for some reason the tick cannot be preserved for analysis, it should be destroyed by pouring boiling water over it or burning it over a fire.
Attention. If you cannot remove the bloodsucker yourself, you must go to the nearest emergency room.
Medical workers will provide first aid in case of a tick bite: they will professionally remove it and send it for examination, they will disinfect the wound and tell you what to do next. The doctor will definitely inform you what symptoms you should pay attention to in the next month.
What to do after removing a tick?
In people predisposed to allergies, a tick bite can cause a strong response in the body. Swelling of the face often develops, difficulty breathing and muscle pain. In this case it is necessary:
- give to the victim antihistamine: Suprastin, Claritin, Zyrtec;
- provide access fresh air, unbutton clothes;
- Call an ambulance.
All other diagnostic and treatment measures are carried out only in a hospital setting.
It is recommended that ticks be tested for diseases as soon as possible.
If the tick could not be kept alive, early diagnosis diseases, it is recommended to donate blood to identify immunoglobulins for infections. The analysis is carried out quickly, the result is usually ready within 5–6 hours. If you have been vaccinated, you must indicate the date when donating blood. The presence of vaccine antibodies may confuse health care providers.
Diseases caused by tick bites
Encephalitis and borreliosis are the most common diseases caused by a tick bite
For Russia the most significant diseases from a tick bite are tick-borne encephalitis, Lyme borreliosis and zoonotic infections. Let's look at them in a little more detail.
Attention. The virus is transmitted through a tick bite. Transmission of the pathogen by the alimentary route is often recorded - through an infected cow or goat milk, not subjected to boiling.
Asymptomatic disease is very common and can reach 85–90% in some areas. Prolonged blood sucking significantly increases the risk of developing pronounced forms of pathology. The virus tolerates low temperatures well, but dies fairly quickly when heated to 80 °C.
Infection with tick-borne encephalitis is seasonal. The first peak of the disease occurs in May-June, the second is recorded in August - early September.
During a bite, the pathogen immediately enters the human blood through salivary glands mite, where it is found in the greatest concentration. After a few hours, the virus penetrates the victim’s central nervous system, and after 2 days it can be detected in brain tissue. The incubation period for encephalitis from a tick bite is 14–21 days, and when infected through milk - no more than a week.
Symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis
The majority of victims have an asymptomatic form of infection, and only 5% have a pronounced form of infection. Tick-borne encephalitis most often begins suddenly with the following symptoms:
- increased body temperature to 39-40 °C;
- Strong headache;
- sleep disturbance;
- nausea leading to vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- redness of the skin of the face and upper body;
- weakness, decreased performance.
Such symptoms are characteristic of the febrile form of the disease, which disappears after 5 days. There is no damage to the central nervous system in this case.
Symptoms of tick-borne encephalitis - this is what a person who gets sick after a tick bite looks like
Meningeal and meningoencephalitic forms of pathology are much more severe. The patient complains of lethargy, apathy and drowsiness. Hallucinations, delirium, impaired consciousness, and convulsions similar to epileptic seizures appear. The meningoencephalitic form may end fatal, which is very rare in recent years.
Periodic muscle twitching indicates damage to the peripheral nerves. A polyradiculoneuritic form of encephalitis develops, in which general sensitivity is impaired. With the polioencephalomyelitis form of the disease, paresis of the arms and legs is observed.
Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis)
Distributed in the northern regions of Russia. The pathogen enters the human bloodstream when bitten by ixodid ticks and can persist in the body for years. The first symptoms of the disease include:
- headache;
- temperature rise to 38-39 °C;
- fatigue, weakness and apathy.
1–3 weeks after a tick bite, a thickening and ring erythema appear at the site of suction, which can reach 20–50 cm in diameter.
Circular erythema is the main symptom of borreliosis
Attention. Despite the fact that a few weeks after the bite the red spot disappears without a trace, it is necessary to conduct an analysis for the presence of the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis, since the disease has serious complications and can be transmitted from pregnant woman to child.
Often in pathological process The central nervous system, heart, muscles and ligaments, joints and organs of vision are involved. Late diagnosis and untimely therapy can lead to chronic borreliosis, which often ends in disability.
Ehrlichiosis
The disease is also transmitted ixodid ticks. Deer are considered the main reservoir of Ehrlichia, with dogs and horses serving as intermediate reservoirs.
Ehrlichiosis can be asymptomatic or clinically pronounced, even fatal. Common signs diseases include:
- fever;
- increased sweating;
- weakness, drowsiness;
- nausea to the point of vomiting;
- rigor.
In the acute phase of ehrlichiosis, anemia and a decrease in the level of platelets and leukocytes in the blood are observed.
Relapsing tick-borne typhus
The infection is usually recorded in southern Russia, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. The disease always occurs suddenly and begins with a vesicle at the site of the tick bite. Then to skin manifestations other symptoms are added:
- fever;
- increased body temperature;
- aching joints;
- nausea and vomiting;
- headache.
Gradually, the bubble becomes bright red, a pronounced rash appears on the patient’s body, the liver enlarges, the skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow.
Tick-borne typhus rash
The disease is wavy in nature. Acute phase usually lasts from 3 to 5 days, then the victim’s condition returns to normal, the temperature drops. A few days later everything repeats again. There can be many such attacks. Each subsequent one occurs with less severity.
Coxiellosis
It is one of the most common zoonotic infections in the world. The disease can be transmitted by both farm and wild animals. One of the distributors of the pathogen is the tick, most often the ixodid tick. It is capable of maintaining rickettsiae in the body for a long time and transmitting them to offspring. The first symptoms appear 5–30 days after the tick bite:
- increased sweating;
- elevated temperature;
- dry, exhausting cough;
- loss of appetite;
- redness of the face and upper body;
- migraines, weakness and drowsiness.
KU fever is often accompanied by pneumonia, pain in the lower back and muscles. The temperature in the first days of the disease can change several times during the day. This disease can only be treated in a hospital setting; it responds well to therapy and recovery occurs quickly. Complications are rare, and the outcome of the disease is most often favorable. A person who has recovered from coxiellosis develops a strong immune system.
Treatment of victims of tick bites
If a tick has bitten and the test results reveal an infection, the patient is given immunotherapy based on doctor’s prescriptions. Further treatment depends on the type of pathogen that has entered the body.
Treatment of patients with tick-borne encephalitis
There are currently no specific treatments for tick-borne encephalitis. If signs of central nervous system damage appear, the victim must be hospitalized to provide medical care. The treatment regimen includes:
- Bed rest during the entire duration of the fever and a week after it ends.
- In the first days of the disease, administration of immunoglobulin is indicated. For achievement best result it is necessary to apply the product as early as possible, preferably in the first three days after a tick bite.
- In general cases, the patient is prescribed corticosteroid drugs and blood substitutes.
- For meningitis, administer higher doses vitamins B and C.
- When worsening respiratory functions The victim is prescribed artificial ventilation.
IN recovery period the patient is prescribed nootropics, tranquilizers and testosterone simulators.
As an addition to the main treatment, antibiotics may be prescribed to the bite victim. Antimicrobials used to suppress pathogenic microflora that can cause various complications.
Therapy for patients with borreliosis
Treatment for Lyme borreliosis involves taking antibiotics. They are used to suppress spirochetes, the causative agents of the disease. The most commonly used drugs are penicillins and cephalosporins. To relieve erythema, antimicrobial agents of the tetracycline group are prescribed.
Antibiotics are used to treat borreliosis
If neurological disorders appear, the victim is hospitalized. In the hospital, complex therapy is carried out, including:
- blood substitutes;
- corticosteroids;
- testosterone mimics;
- nootropic drugs to improve cerebral circulation;
- vitamin complexes.
The outcome of borreliosis depends on the timely detection of a tick bite, correct setting diagnosis and early start therapy. Incompetent treatment often leads to chronic phase Lyme disease, which is difficult to treat and can result in disability or death of the victim.
Attention. To treat protozoal infections, medications are used that prevent further growth and development of protozoa.
Complications after a tick bite
Summarizing all of the above, we can draw a very disappointing conclusion about the consequences of a tick bite. As you can see, infections affect the most important systems of the body:
- lungs - with the development of symptoms of pneumonia and pulmonary hemorrhages;
- liver - indigestion, problems with stool (diarrhea);
- CNS - with frequent headaches, hallucinations, paresis and paralysis;
- cardiovascular system - arrhythmia and blood pressure surges appear;
- joints - arthritis and arthralgia are formed.
The consequences of a tick bite can develop in two ways. At favorable outcome Loss of performance, weakness and lethargy continue for 2–3 months, then all body functions return to normal.
For moderate illness, recovery lasts up to six months or longer. A serious form of the disease requires rehabilitation period up to 2–3 years, provided that the disease proceeded without paralysis and paresis.
If the outcome is unfavorable, there is a persistent and long-term (or permanent) decrease in the quality of life of the victim of a tick bite. Manifests itself as a violation of motor function. The clinical picture worsens significantly under the influence of nervous and physical fatigue, pregnancy, regular alcohol intake.
Persistent disorders in the form of epileptic manifestations and spontaneous convulsions lead to the patient's incapacity.
Disability as a consequence of a tick bite
As you know, there are 3 groups of disabilities. The degree of damage to the body after a tick bite is determined by a special medical commission:
- Disability Group III- mild paresis of the arms and legs, rare epileptic seizures, inability to perform highly skilled work that requires precision and attention.
- Group II disability - severe paresis of the limbs, partial muscle paresis, severe epilepsy with mental changes, asthenic syndrome, loss of ability to self-care.
- Group I disability - acquired dementia, severe motor dysfunction, persistent and complete epilepsy, widespread muscle paresis, loss of self-control and inability to move independently.
In particular severe cases with inadequate treatment of infections caused by a tick bite or complete absence therapy may result in death.
Prevention of tick bites
The main and main measure to prevent diseases transmitted by bloodsuckers is vaccination. The event significantly reduces the risk of infection after tick bites. Vaccination is necessary for people living in epidemiologically dangerous areas or people whose work is related to forestry.
Vaccination is the main measure to prevent diseases caused by tick bites.
Advice. Despite the limited risk group, it is better for everyone to get vaccinated. After all, it is not known where you will be “lucky” to encounter a tick.
Primary vaccination is allowed from an early age. Adults can use domestic and imported drugs, for children - only imported ones. You should not buy the vaccine yourself and bring it to the vaccination office. They won't drive her anyway. The drug requires a lot strict rules storage, compliance with a certain temperature and light conditions, which is impossible to do at home. Therefore, there is no point in purchasing an expensive drug and storing it in the refrigerator.
There are two vaccination options:
- Preventive vaccination. Helps protect against tick bites for a year, and after additional vaccination - for at least 3 years. Revaccinations are carried out every three years.
- Emergency vaccination. Allows you to protect yourself from tick bites for a short period of time. For example, such a procedure will be necessary for an urgent trip to regions with high tick-borne activity. While staying in epidemiologically dangerous areas, it is recommended to take iodantipyrine.
The vaccine is administered only after a detailed interview, visual inspection and temperature measurement. Persons with inflammatory diseases are not vaccinated until complete recovery.
How to protect yourself from a tick bite?
When going to an unfavorable area, you should choose clothes in light colors:
- a shirt or jacket with cuffs and a tight-fitting collar, trousers tucked into boots;
- anti-encephalitis suit;
- a thick hood with ties that protects the ears and neck from ticks;
- It is advisable to treat clothes with insecticidal agents.
The best way do not “meet” a tick - strictly follow all preventive measures
To repel ticks, special insecticidal products based on DEET are produced, but repellents are not effective enough and require application every 2 hours. They can be used on exposed areas of the body and clothing.
Acaricides are more effective. The drugs are used for contact destruction of ticks. They can only be used on outerwear worn over underwear.
Attention. Often there are acaricides on sale for application to skin. However, they should be used very carefully. Possible strong allergic reaction and poisoning.
Tick-borne encephalitis insurance
IN Lately insurance of expenses associated with possible disease encephalitis after an “encounter” with a tick. This measure is often used as an addition to vaccination or as an independent measure.
Insurance for the costs associated with the treatment of a tick bite will not hurt anyone
Insurance will help pay for expensive treatment for tick-borne encephalitis and other infections carried by bloodsuckers.
Attention. The article is for reference only. Competent diagnosis and treatment of diseases is possible only under the supervision of a specialist.
In summer, ticks become more active. You can catch them anywhere, since they live on trees, bushes, and grass. They adapt to different conditions environment, surviving even in the unfavorable arctic climate.
Ticks feed on blood and for a long time they can do without it. They need it to lay eggs. It takes 2 years to develop. Under warm climates, this cycle is shortened, and when unfavorable conditions rises.
The unpaired outgrowth of the hypostome, which acts as a sucker, helps the tick to gain a foothold on the skin. It is easier for it to attach to the following areas: neck, stomach, groin, lower back, chest, ears, since the skin in these places is very thin. It is easy for a tick to get caught in the area where hair grows: on the head, armpits.
What is dangerous about a tick bite for humans is that it is difficult to detect. It often happens that a person notices a problem when the tick has already fallen off.
After a bite, the area of skin begins to become inflamed and red. Allergies may occur, but this does not cause pain. The tick is not able to bite through clothing; it needs to get to an open area on the skin. They need to immerse both their proboscis and their head.
With borreliosis, the bite is characterized by more pronounced signs. In appearance, it resembles a round spot, its diameter reaches 10–20 cm. Sometimes it increases, reaching up to 60 cm. Over time, it is surrounded by a red border. In the center it takes on a blue or white tint. The bite site begins to resemble a donut; a crust with scars forms on the skin, which disappear after 2 weeks.
After detecting a bite mark, it is necessary to determine at what stage of development the tick is. Adult form called imago. It differs in that it has 4 pairs of legs. The female feeds on blood longer than the male and can remain on the body for several days. It only takes a few hours for a male to be satisfied. A larva called a nymph can also attach itself to the skin. The larva has 3 pairs of legs.
If a tick is found on the skin, it should be pulled out immediately. Doctors advise not to kill it, but to put it in a jar, which is sent for analysis to identify the pathogen. Since the tick takes a little time to attach, timely detection helps avoid infection. If the tick does bite through the skin, the patient should be observed by a doctor for 30 days.
The incubation period after this may last for 2 months. The rate at which symptoms manifest is influenced by the blood-brain barrier. If it is weak, signs of the disease are detected earlier.
During the incubation period, the disease can be detected using antibody tests and PCR. The first method shows when the infection passed, and the second helps to identify the specific pathogen.
Symptoms of infection
These symptoms are more often found in children, the elderly, patients with a tendency to allergies, and patients with immunodeficiencies. At first the symptoms are mild, but gradually intensify.
The disease develops slowly. The victim’s temperature rises, the heartbeat quickens, the lymph nodes become inflamed, and a rash is noticeable on the skin. The discomfort is intensified by severe itching.
From individual characteristics will depend on how long it takes for symptoms to appear after a tick bite. The rash is an allergy to substances present in the saliva of the arthropod. First, the bite site and the surrounding area begins to turn red. Then a burning sensation begins and the affected area swells. After this, rashes or compactions appear.
Tick-borne encephalitis can be contracted not only through a bite. The pathogen can settle on the animal’s body and infect it. In this case, a person becomes infected when drinking milk. The virus first attacks internal organs and then spreads to the brain.
Tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis are treated at home if the disease is initial stage, otherwise urgent hospitalization is necessary. The patient is prescribed intramuscular injections and droppers. If the nervous system is damaged, the patient is hospitalized.
Acarodermatitis is an allergy to substances secreted by arthropods while sucking on the skin. This reaction is manifested by inflammation and severe itching, then asymmetrical rashes appear. The patient may have minor hemorrhages. Most often, the pathology affects the arms and legs.
Signs of akarodermatitis are detected several hours after infection. To cure a disease, you must adhere to good hygiene. The patient is prescribed special ointments, which are applied after hygiene procedures. If the disease is started, staphylococcus develops. Other tick-borne infections may appear later. Acarodermatitis has the most favorable prognosis and the easiest to treat.
After a bite, ehrlichiosis can develop. The disease is caused by a bacterium carried by a tick. Its symptoms, like those of encephalitis, resemble a cold. The patient develops chills, headache, muscle and joint pain. The patient is constantly tired.
Prevention against ticks in humans
Preventative measures to prevent bites include treating the skin by special means, repelling insects. They are recommended to be applied before outdoor recreation or visiting the forest. Upon returning home, you need to carefully examine the body, paying special attention to the areas in which the tick attaches itself most often.
To avoid infection, vaccination is recommended. The vaccine is administered three times: in November, a month later, and the last dose after another 3 months. It is important that the last dose is administered at least 14 days before the tick is active. If the patient is infected, administration of immunoglobulin is indicated.
Pathogens carried by ticks can be divided into 2 types: bacteria and insect eggs. Both forms are dangerous, but bacterial infections are easier to treat. The settlement under the skin of larvae, the carrier of which is a tick, is much more dangerous, and even fatal for children.
It is necessary to pay sufficient attention to the prevention of infections that can be contracted from an insect bite. It is recommended to use repellents, and outdoor enthusiasts should be vaccinated annually. The main thing is not to ignore the symptoms that appear after the bite. The danger is that they periodically disappear, leaving a false impression of recovery.
Tick-borne encephalitis is a dangerous disease that can have very serious consequences for a person, including death. Encephalitis is an insidious disease; a person may not suspect that he is infected for quite a long time and not take any action, because incubation period tick-borne encephalitis can reach 21 days.
Factors influencing the length of the incubation period
How long does the bite last? infected tick before signs of encephalitis appear, depends on a number of factors. First of all, it depends on the state of the body of the bitten person. The better the protective system works, that is, the stronger the immunity, the longer the so-called “infectious period”.
In children and older people, whose immunity is weaker, the incubation period for the development of diseases is shorter. With a very weakened immune system, signs of encephalitis may appear as early as 2 days after the bite.
There are cases that immune defense the body is so strong that the symptoms of encephalitis never occur. The body successfully fights the virus, while producing antibodies, forming immunity to the virus. In this case, the only evidence that the body has been infected is a blood test that detects antibodies to encephalitis.
On average, the incubation period of tick-borne encephalitis lasts 8-14 days. The first symptom is fever - a rise in temperature to 38, sometimes up to 40 degrees. Weakness, chills, and weakness appear.
The duration of the incubation period of encephalitis also depends on the amount of virus that enters the body during the bite. Here a lot depends on how early the attached tick is detected. If little time has passed, then the tick most likely will not have time to transmit a large amount of the virus to the human body. Quick detection and removal of an infected tick significantly reduces the likelihood of contracting encephalitis, but does not completely eliminate it.
The degree of infection depends on the correct removal of the tick. If the tick was crushed during removal, then there is a high probability that the entire virus contained in it will penetrate the wound at the site of the bite.
The sooner encephalitis is detected, the sooner treatment can begin and the more effective it will be. Therefore, if you are bitten by a tick, you must consult a doctor and undergo the necessary examination. Tick-borne encephalitis has an incubation period of 2 to 21 days, so early detection is the key to successful treatment.
When you see a doctor as soon as possible after a bite, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment, and the likelihood of complications is significantly reduced. The infected person is given immunoglobulin, which helps the body fight the virus. This fight is much more successful if the virus has not had time to multiply in the body.